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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
  • replies: 0

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for ... View more

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for coming this far, we know it can be really hard to take these steps if depression is in your life - we see you and think this is a great step. To get the most out of this space we have a few tips: Get involved. The Forums work best for you when you get active and post where you can. Now, we know that can be really hard, especially when you are experiencing depression. So, if you can post something supportive to someone else here, that would be an incredible start. Speak from the heart. This community wants to know how YOU feel and what has worked for YOU. We trust that you have something unique to say and we can’t wait to hear it. Check in. Lots of the discussions in this section of the Forums have been going for years and they are some of the richest conversations we have. Keep checking in to get new ideas and offer your support. We know it can be tough to start, but when you are ready we want to hear your thoughts. If you need some time to get to know the community, that's okay! Have a look around and see where you want to get involved. Thank you for being here! Beyond Blue

Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

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Irish_Ebony New here. Didn't accept that I had depression until last night.
  • replies: 2

New here. Didn't accept that I had depression until last night. Iv been feeling low for months and cry randomly along with constant negative thoughts, many of these thoughts are irrational and I know they sound 'crazy' if I told anyone about them. I ... View more

New here. Didn't accept that I had depression until last night. Iv been feeling low for months and cry randomly along with constant negative thoughts, many of these thoughts are irrational and I know they sound 'crazy' if I told anyone about them. I thought I could heal myself, I thought I could think positive thoughts and take myself out of this doom and gloom way of living but that didn't happen. The more I try to be happy the more fake I feel then I feel guilty that I'm not expressing myself to my partner. He has always been my rock and knows me inside out, so last night when he said "I think you're depressed" it was like hitting the nail on the head, I was! And I just needed to hear someone say those words for me to believe it. Currently in bed feeling sorry for myself (as usual) contemplating making a doctors appointment, I know I need to talk to someone and maybe even get meds but I'm scared incase the medication changes my personality (if that makes sense). Anyone in a the same boat as me???x

ChrisMelbourne Depression in Melbourne
  • replies: 13

Hi all, my name is Chris I am 25 years old from overseas but I'm living in Melbourne the past 5 years. i have basically had server depression for over a year, which I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I have totally changed my lif... View more

Hi all, my name is Chris I am 25 years old from overseas but I'm living in Melbourne the past 5 years. i have basically had server depression for over a year, which I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I have totally changed my life around for the better and for the last couple of weeks I have been feeling the best I have felt in the past year. While I still have bouts of depression day to day, I am no where near how bad I was. I would like to meet up and talk with other people that have depression, that our going tru it or that have been try it. I have tried a support group but I didn't find it to helpful and the people there didn't want to open up or talk about it. i just want people to know that we are not alone, and there is nothing wrong with us, I am looking to help who ever needs it and to Let people know that things will get better. I have been tru the worst year of my life and I did not think that I would ever feel any other way than depressed I tought that this was me for the rest of my life. The reason I am writing on here is because I don't have many friends here in Australia its just me and my girl here, and i got tru this with sheer will power and a fight for life. If I could help anyone out there I would or if u are looking for someone to talk to that knows how your feeing I'm here.

MsPhoenix can't seem to shake it off
  • replies: 7

How does everyone get out of bed every morning when you feel like you are getting lower not better. How do you turn a corner when you feel lost. How do you not take out the way you feel with the others in your life.

How does everyone get out of bed every morning when you feel like you are getting lower not better. How do you turn a corner when you feel lost. How do you not take out the way you feel with the others in your life.

Sarah5 Asking Dr to hold medication for safe keeping, is this ok?
  • replies: 3

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question.... has anyone ever given prescription medication to their doctor to hold for them because they didn't want it in the house and didn't have anyone else to give it to for 'safe keeping' until th... View more

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question.... has anyone ever given prescription medication to their doctor to hold for them because they didn't want it in the house and didn't have anyone else to give it to for 'safe keeping' until they felt better? I hope that makes sense.If anyone has - did the doctor accept it/was willing to take it, what was their reaction? I'm not sure how to phrase this - how do you go in and say 'I don't trust myself enough with this in the house' without them thinking the worst? Will they give it back? Or should I not even ask? beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Feelinghopeless I feel physically sick with worry every morning
  • replies: 2

Have finally decided to take the first step and get some help, but am not sure where to start. I have been afraid of being judged for my feelings but have decided that it has to be better than continuing with how I am feeling now. I haven't had depre... View more

Have finally decided to take the first step and get some help, but am not sure where to start. I have been afraid of being judged for my feelings but have decided that it has to be better than continuing with how I am feeling now. I haven't had depression or anxiety before so am unsure of what I should do. For the past few years things in my life have gradually taken its toll on my life. I now feel physically sick with worry every morning and dread the day that is about to start. I can't seem to find a positive in anything I do and I have so much to be happy for but can't seem to get myself out of this slump. I'm going to book in with my GP, with hesitation, but I need to do it. Hopefully I am on the right track and I can start improving myself for myself and everyone around me.. Thanks for listening..

blankmind The feeling...
  • replies: 2

So you know that feeling where you just don't want to anymore, you just don't want to... anything... anymore. You want to get off the train and just be left in the calm nothingness? where you can just float and not have to? On top of that is the over... View more

So you know that feeling where you just don't want to anymore, you just don't want to... anything... anymore. You want to get off the train and just be left in the calm nothingness? where you can just float and not have to? On top of that is the overwhelming need to get away, to be nowhere, to sleep for an eternity without interruption, to turn off and shut down. The numb feeling where you aren't sad, or happy or anything in between, you don't feel depressed, your emotions seem to have shut down, your body feels almost like a shell containing the destruction that bounce around inside your head.... it's like something is broken but you don't know what or how to fix it, or even if you want to. Being so distracted most of the time that you don't hear what people are saying to you for half of a conversation until suddenly the noise clicks in and you realise someone is talking to you and have been for the last 5 mins. The lack of concentration at work or while doing things, the inability to focus on one task without being distracted by something else. All of this while trying to put on a fake "shell" so you seem normal to everyone else including family, like nothing is wrong. What do you do with that?

Lazybones I’ll do anything to avoid it and put it off
  • replies: 2

Not sure if this is anxiety, depression, reverse ADHD but need some guidance from you guys. As background I’m male in my 30s and I have a few stresses in my life, big mortgage, young child, another on the way, not performing well at work and worrying... View more

Not sure if this is anxiety, depression, reverse ADHD but need some guidance from you guys. As background I’m male in my 30s and I have a few stresses in my life, big mortgage, young child, another on the way, not performing well at work and worrying about my finances. My question is, does anyone have a crippling inability to do anything without it being at the absolute last minute? At work, at home and in your social life? I know I need to do something, I know what is required, I know that it’s not that hard but I just can’t do it. I’ll have a simple phone call to make at work, but I’ll do anything to avoid it and put it off. I’ll defer everything to “tomorrow” and eventually say to myself it’s too late now I just won’t bother. All I do all day is cycle through facebook, news.com, other sites, check my phone etc. I do anything but do what is required of me. Is this depression? Anxiety etc? I don’t feel sad though, just worn out. Its really affecting my work, as my job is a professional sales based role. All the things I should be doing to improve I just don’t do. Not performing well stresses me, but I just don’t do the things I know I need to do to improve, which would reduce my stress... I need my job to pay my bills, the potential to lose my job also stresses me lol... I would go to a doctor about this but I’ll put that off too.

guest140 Sad
  • replies: 3

Hello, I find myself on the beyond blue website instead of sleeping. My husband is asleep next to me, aware of my pain but at a loss about how to support me. I'm a primary school teacher who has recently moved from Melbourne to Sydney. I suffer from ... View more

Hello, I find myself on the beyond blue website instead of sleeping. My husband is asleep next to me, aware of my pain but at a loss about how to support me. I'm a primary school teacher who has recently moved from Melbourne to Sydney. I suffer from anxiety related depression. in m early twenties I had an eating disorder. I became very painfully and severely underweight. Throughout my twenties I was distracted by life, studying, working, building a house, getting married. Now, in my early 30s I feel like life is draining my energy. Late last year I was diagnosed with depression. I was given a prescription for anti-depressants and also treatment with a psychologist. Together with the psychologist I made the decision to undergo counselling and not take the medicines (I was not happy with the speed with which they were prescribed by a GP - 10 minutes nor was I comfortable with the side effects, but that's my choice). I thought last year my anxiety was caused by the stress at work. I found work relatively quickly in Sydney and have worked a term at a new school. I'm yet to find a doctor or counsellor in Sydney. I'm struggling to work out if I'm simply homesick and lonely (understandable) or if it's the work environment (I am not at all suited to this school) or if it's some other reason or a combination. I'm scared that my dark thoughts and lack of vitality will come back. I'm sliding into a hole and I'm sure I lack to skills to help myself out. I cry most days. I'm extremely anxious. I feel trapped in this job, how can I leave after only one term, yet I'm also terrified of staying and descending into depression. i need advice on how to leave one position unexpected while still somehow get a reference that can help future employment. Sydney is expensive and I need to work to pay rent. I fear the financial birder my anxiety and depression will place on my marriage. I'm so scared, anxious and lonely. Would like someone, anyone, to reach out and understand my pain. Thank you.

BK13 To tell or not to tell? Level of openness regarding your mental illness
  • replies: 11

I have been an unofficial member of the M.I. club (sounds much cooler like that huh....) since I was a teenager so basically half my life, officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety just over 2 years ago, commenced treatment 5 weeks ago (been o... View more

I have been an unofficial member of the M.I. club (sounds much cooler like that huh....) since I was a teenager so basically half my life, officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety just over 2 years ago, commenced treatment 5 weeks ago (been on meds just over 4 weeks and have had 1 session with a psych so far). Just wanted to make sure everyone knew my back story before I ask my question! I just wanted to gauge how open others have been regarding their mental illness? Thus far I have only told my partner, my best friend, 1 trusted friend, and my brother-in law and his wife. I just feel like I'm keeping this big secret from everyone else and wonder if it might improve my relationships if I tell them. I don't live in the same country as my family so it's very easy just to omit details, to not mention when I am feeling all sorts of bad. I generally get around this by not calling them unless I'm feeling half stable. At times this means weeks or months on end without speaking to my parents. I haven't seen my mum in years. I am however visiting them in a few weeks so I'm mulling over if I should tell them or not, and if so how detailed I want to be. I also am not sure if I should/could/want to tell them about my partners recent suicide attempt. I just wonder if part of this weight on my shoulders is relating to not letting my loved ones in on the 'true' me. They know only a filtered version of myself and my life! IE they view my life as if through Instagram and I'm sure most of you have seen those 'life in instagram VS life in reality' posts... that's what I feel like, a bit of a fraud. I know none of you can tell me what to do and what worked for you won't necessarily work for me - but I just wanted to know what your own experiences had been regarding telling family, friends, bosses, colleagues etc. Did you feel better? Did it improve your relationships? Did you feel they understood better and helped them understand why you act certain ways? Or did it completely backfire and they treated you differently in a bad way! Did you go out of your way to tell people? Or did you just tell them when they asked? Or is/was this a private battle to be fought only with your chosen few let in on the full story? Share away please I am all ears! I also intend on discussing this train of thought with my psych next week but thoughts from you guys would be much appreciated. BK

MsPhoenix My story...well some!
  • replies: 2

Hi all, my story is probably similar to some of you hear, but I need to tell it anyway, in a summarized version.I am in my late 40's and on marriage no3. I have 3 children of my own and 2 steps. The steps live with their dad and i and because of this... View more

Hi all, my story is probably similar to some of you hear, but I need to tell it anyway, in a summarized version.I am in my late 40's and on marriage no3. I have 3 children of my own and 2 steps. The steps live with their dad and i and because of this my own children who range from 16 - 25 refuse to include me in their lives, my own parents or sibling don't want me in their lives either.I know that i need to focus on what is under my roof but because of my own family ostracizing me I can't get past the sadness and feeling of a loss of identity. I know that this sound melodramatic but you bring 3 kids in the world and now nothing to show for it, it's tough. My husband has been understanding to a point but is now considering leaving me too. Im on meds for my depression with the occasional benzodiazepines to get me thru bad days. I'm just reaching out here because i don't know where yo start. Naturally there is soooo much more to my story but just someone who can 'take me under their wing' would be a fantastic start.I need to stop crying one day.